EverCharge, now part of the SK Group and an electric vehicle charging solutions provider, announced that it’s opening a 30,000-square-foot production factory in Hayward, California, according to Electrive.
Spanning 2,787 square meters, the new plant will help EverCharge produce electric vehicle chargers for the US market.
EverCharge hasn’t disclosed the production capacity or staff numbers. However, it plans to double its factory workforce in the middle of 2023.
The demand for EV charging has never been greater, and we are committed to investing in the manufacturing, installation, and service of charging stations for our rapidly growing customer base.
Jason Appelbaum, CEO of EverCharge
Notably, the new Hayward facility’s development and expansion started in September 2022 and are expected to be completed by early next year.
EverCharge said it chose Hayward for its talent availability, surrounding business community, and proximity to Highway 880 for logistics.
While the company says “international supply chain shortages” have pushed for the decision to manufacture in the US, it is also possible that US policies have some impact on it.
Korean company SK ES obtained EverCharge in March 2022, and today, EverCharge says the factory opening came “on the heels” of said acquisition.
SK Group & Hyundai to set up battery production in Georgia
In addition, the SK Group has been investing in US production for some time. Most recently, it announced plans with Hyundai to set up joint battery production in the US state of Georgia.
Meanwhile, their other EV charging equipment manufacturer, SK Signet, also set up shop in the USA and has precisely referred to US funding policies being critical for the decision as reported.
Tax credits to subsidize locally-built charging infrastructure
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program were raised to subsidize locally-made charging infrastructure.
Under NEVI, the US government is providing $5 billion worth of incentives to install a 500,000 charging station network across the country by 2030.
However, the funding pledge includes having most components assembled or sourced in North America.
EverCharge operates 4,600 EV charges across North America
EverCharge’s SmartPower technology maximizes the number of EVs that can charge at any time. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Palo Alto, it has set up and operates 4,600 EV chargers in North America.
